I found this prayer. I don't normally share my written prayers. Prayer is a private and most intimate time spent with the Father. Similar to time spent between a husband and a wife. BUT! This isn't (necessarily) one of those naked, raw and bare prayers. I have changed a few things so I that may not hender you or cause you to question my faith and my sanity. But, I share this as a psalm! It was written during a dry time BUT GOD is(was) the Water (Living) that quenches my thirst, even in the driest of seasons. I pray you find your self encouraged.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The SO WHAT?
There has to be more than mere words that are required of man. There has to be! What is the "filling"? What goes in the "blank space"? ... Between the words that speak of a love of those who claim to possess it and the behavior of the person who is professing this love?
Lord, you require more than poets. You require more than professionals, motivators-orators. DOERS are what you require! James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.Those who walk out their love before opening their mouths to say "I love you". Love is active. It moves, it runs, it gives, it seeks out, it knocks of doors, it reaches out, it clears its schedule, it cooks,it cleans other people's homes, it holds hands, it hugs, it listens,it overlooks, it waits,It doesn't forsake, it forgives, it catches.
I say I love God and I love people. So What? What am I doing that illustrates the Love that I have for my God and His people. I am so glad Jesus has left us with the answer to this question?
John 14:15a “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
John13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
John 15:13-14 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."
Written November 2012
Lord, you require more than poets. You require more than professionals, motivators-orators. DOERS are what you require! James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.Those who walk out their love before opening their mouths to say "I love you". Love is active. It moves, it runs, it gives, it seeks out, it knocks of doors, it reaches out, it clears its schedule, it cooks,it cleans other people's homes, it holds hands, it hugs, it listens,it overlooks, it waits,It doesn't forsake, it forgives, it catches.
I say I love God and I love people. So What? What am I doing that illustrates the Love that I have for my God and His people. I am so glad Jesus has left us with the answer to this question?
John 14:15a “If you love me, you will keep my commandments."
John13:34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."
John 15:13-14 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you."
Written November 2012
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Perspective!
I am learning that the HEAVY things in this world are in no way as heavy as the weight of our SINS that soiled our Savior so, that even God could not look up on Him.
Wow! Talk about PERSPECTIVE.
When Curran was about 9 months old...I remember thinking man I am about to lose my mind (nothing to do with Curran, but just having three tykes). But, the thought of my mother in law would come to mind. If she had five, surely I can do it with three. This of course, is not to say she didn't struggle like I was struggling nor that she didn't get tired like I was. NO!! It spoke to me, saying"Girl, you can do this!"
How much more is this True of our Savior. I find Hebrews 4:14-16 to always be encouraging. Now of course, Jesus didn't have any children. But, He did have 12 disciples who followed Him everywhere. They too did foolish things, said foolish things, were hard-headed and sometimes just plaindoo doo aloof! Oh, but what Savior we have in Jesus Christ! He sa
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated to Thee (click on link)
Wow! Talk about PERSPECTIVE.
When Curran was about 9 months old...I remember thinking man I am about to lose my mind (nothing to do with Curran, but just having three tykes). But, the thought of my mother in law would come to mind. If she had five, surely I can do it with three. This of course, is not to say she didn't struggle like I was struggling nor that she didn't get tired like I was. NO!! It spoke to me, saying"Girl, you can do this!"
How much more is this True of our Savior. I find Hebrews 4:14-16 to always be encouraging. Now of course, Jesus didn't have any children. But, He did have 12 disciples who followed Him everywhere. They too did foolish things, said foolish things, were hard-headed and sometimes just plain
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16
Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated to Thee (click on link)
Take My Life and Let It Be
Verse 1:
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Verse 2:
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Verse 3:
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Filled with messages from Thee.
Verse 4:
Take my silver and my gold:
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Verse 5:
Take my will, and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Verse 6:
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Words: Frances R. Havergal 1874.
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Sunday, January 13, 2013
Notes I have found written in my Bible
Experiences DO NOT determine what we believe...
Forgiveness is humanly possible, with Christ
Forgiveness is NOT about entitlement
Grace is more powerful than sin
Lack of mercy illustrates lack of maturity
When we forgive, we set ourselves free...we become the prisoner when we choose NOT to forgive
Look for an opportunity to meet a need.
When people encounter us they encounter Christ
Ignorance and unbelief kills
God will not share us with another, not even ourselves--Sarah McKinney
Strife amongst Christians does not bear a good witness nor does it protect the Name of God
God cannot be fooled
Unity begets growth begets unity
A mature Christian doesn't all speak his/her mind.
A mature Christian is not a slave to his or her feelings
A mature Christian finds his/her role in Christ and DOES IT!!
Yield so Christ Wins!
Forgiveness is humanly possible, with Christ
Forgiveness is NOT about entitlement
Grace is more powerful than sin
Lack of mercy illustrates lack of maturity
When we forgive, we set ourselves free...we become the prisoner when we choose NOT to forgive
Look for an opportunity to meet a need.
When people encounter us they encounter Christ
Ignorance and unbelief kills
God will not share us with another, not even ourselves--Sarah McKinney
Strife amongst Christians does not bear a good witness nor does it protect the Name of God
God cannot be fooled
Unity begets growth begets unity
A mature Christian doesn't all speak his/her mind.
A mature Christian is not a slave to his or her feelings
A mature Christian finds his/her role in Christ and DOES IT!!
Yield so Christ Wins!
Saturday, January 12, 2013
He Is Making All Things New
"And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”--Revelation 21:5
One of the many promises of Christ I think we often forget. Our Savior IS MAKING ALL THINGS NEW!!! Yet, another reason WHY we don't have to default to ways nor the mentality of this world, which finds it roots grown from the hands of satan.
I wanted to focus on ONE aspect of this promise: SIN. God created man and woman to dwell with Him. And SIN came, as the ulitmate [relationship] crasher...Just messed the whole thing up, putting a great divide between the Creator and His creation. BUT!!! We have this Wonderful yet Indescribable Creator God who gave up of Himself, His own Son to be the Bridge to lay over that divide! He made a safe way of escape from SIN and it's fruit: DEATH; through the shedding of the Blood of His Son Jesus Christ! NOW!!! We have the opportunity to dwell with the Father forevermore.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4
What do these passages have to do with SIN? Well, you see in this new place there will no longer be the threat of separation from our God again. Because sin and the threat of death, for the BELIEVER, has been destroyed FOREVER. Jesus satisfied this with the offering of His pure and perfect blood ONCE and FOR ALL [TIME].
"For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself." Hebrews 7:26-27
The reality of this truth hit home the other day when my husband I witnessed the heartbreaking moment of when one of our children had to come face-to-face with their own sin. It wasn't pretty. It was heart wrenching. BUT! Now she has the image of the ugliness of sin and how it made her look(to herself and to God) and how it made her feel. My prayer is that she will FOREVER WANT TO FLEE from anything that would cloud the image in which she was made: God's [Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."]
The greatness about this story, and it applies to all who believe in Christ, is that although we may find ourselves constantly dusting off the dirt of this world (sin), we get to look ahead to...where ALL THINGS are NEW!
"And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:5
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Psalm 141:8
Sitting here scanning over Ann Voskamp's blog[Ann's blog], listening to the soft melodies that is putting me back in our first home in Fort Benning, GA...ahhhh, gotta love nostalgia!!!
I am reminded though of the simiplicity of living life and in, every way, to seek to glorify God. Oh, how quick we are to make life so complicated, eh? And for what reason? I mean, I know I don't like things to be harder than they need to be, but yet, I must admit, I am guilty of doing just that... Anyway, I digress.
It is my ambition to savor Christ and His written Word, all while bringing Him glory. As we continue to transition from our home away from Home (#2)...My (our) sub point, on the already outlined goal of savoring Christ and His written Word, I find myself seeking God in a new and finite way. Of Course, God Himself is NOT limited. NO WAY!!!!! He is so BIG!
.....But the peep hole, in which I have to view Him through seems narrower each time I lift my eyes. It feels as though the distractions of this world, thins out my eye view of Him. So I squint harder to keep my focus on Him. Praise Him that I can still see Him!!! The Lord is so faithful, even when we fail Him. Glory to His Name. Praise His Name, He is always near! Right!
As, I cling to the Lord ever more during this time, I will leave you with some Scriptures I have been feasting on these past months...
Psalm 145: 13-21
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.][c]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 144: 1-2
Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples[a] under me.
Psalm 142
With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
3 When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
5 I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
Psalm 141:8
8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Let Your Glory Fill This Place
I am reminded though of the simiplicity of living life and in, every way, to seek to glorify God. Oh, how quick we are to make life so complicated, eh? And for what reason? I mean, I know I don't like things to be harder than they need to be, but yet, I must admit, I am guilty of doing just that... Anyway, I digress.
It is my ambition to savor Christ and His written Word, all while bringing Him glory. As we continue to transition from our home away from Home (#2)...My (our) sub point, on the already outlined goal of savoring Christ and His written Word, I find myself seeking God in a new and finite way. Of Course, God Himself is NOT limited. NO WAY!!!!! He is so BIG!
.....But the peep hole, in which I have to view Him through seems narrower each time I lift my eyes. It feels as though the distractions of this world, thins out my eye view of Him. So I squint harder to keep my focus on Him. Praise Him that I can still see Him!!! The Lord is so faithful, even when we fail Him. Glory to His Name. Praise His Name, He is always near! Right!
As, I cling to the Lord ever more during this time, I will leave you with some Scriptures I have been feasting on these past months...
Psalm 145: 13-21
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.][c]
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Psalm 144: 1-2
Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
and my fingers for battle;
2 he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
who subdues peoples[a] under me.
Psalm 142
With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
3 When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
5 I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
Psalm 141:8
8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Let Your Glory Fill This Place
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Happy Birthday Amber!
Today, we continue to praise the Lord for Our Oldest Amber May!!! Wow, How time flies! Happy 8th Birthday!
Amber's verse:
"I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done." Psalm 118:17
Amber's verse:
"I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done." Psalm 118:17
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